The (Mostly) Indie Film Calendar: Nov. 16-22

Welcome to The (Mostly) Indie Film Calendar, a weekly look at what's happening beyond the multiplexes all around North America. If you know of something indie-related happening near you -- a local festival, a series of classic restored films, lectures, workshops, etc. -- send the info to me at Eric.Snider(at)weblogsinc(dot)com and I'll add it to the list. (Please put "Cinematical" somewhere in the subject line so I can easily separate you from the spam.)

Three high-profile indie (or near-indie) films are opening in theaters this week, so let's have a look at those, shall we?

Margot at the Wedding is Noah Baumbach's follow-up to The Squid and the Whale, and like that film, it's got a low-budget, do-it-yourself vibe accompanying a story about a family's unique ability to destroy itself. Nicole Kidman and Baumbach's wife Jennifer Jason Leigh star. Opens today in New York; L.A., San Francisco, Seattle, and other cities on Wednesday. (Here's a review by Cinematical's Ryan Stewart; here's Patrick Chui's interview with Baumbach; and here's James Rocchi's interview with Leigh.)

Redacted boasts a prestigious director (Brian De Palma) tackling a hugely controversial issue (the war in Iraq). Bill O'Reilly hates it (I'm not sure if he's seen it, or if he even needs to see something to hate it), and that's all the sales pitch I need! Here's Ryan Stewart's review from Toronto. It opens today in L.A., NYC, D.C., Philly, San Francisco, Chicago, and elsewhere.

If you thought Donnie Darko was an indecipherable wankfest, then you're in for a treat with Southland Tales, Richard Kelly's follow-up to his 2001 cult hit. It's at least as indecipherable and twice as wankfest-y. It's now playing in a few dozen locations nationwide.

After the jump, special screenings and events in Austin, Chicago, L.A., Montreal, NYC, Salt Lake City, and Seattle....